Yesterday I attended the graduation ceremonies of Berklee College of Music Class of 2011, Sitting in the audience watching these young graduates shake the hands of musical greats such as Gospel Great Mavis Staples of the Staples Singers, Cuban Musician/Pianists Chucho & his father Bebo Valdes, grammy winning saxophonist Kenny Garrett and Rock & R&B star Michael McDonald who all received honorary PhD’s, it was with much pride that I witnessed Ms. Khandeya Sheppard a Young Pannist who grew up in the Steelband Culture, in a family of Pannists, played in steelbands from TNT, Baltimore MD, New York and Boston, watching this young lady make history by being the first female Pan Principle Graduate to walk that stage was sheer joy. However, I was disappointed when I realized that the speakers who opened the graduation ceremonies mention allot of "Firsts" including the fact that this graduating class was the biggest in the history of Berklee with 908 graduates but not this Pan first. I'm wondering how come the head of the steel pan program at Berklee did not make this a "First" fact along with the others that was mentioned.
Congratulations to all the Class of 2011 graduates.......
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